Walliams' stalker admits campaign

A woman has admitted in court to harassing Little Britain star David Walliams over a four-year period.

Sarah Bartholomew, 29, from Essex, sent a stream of letters, e-mails and gifts to the comedian, and texted his agent saying: "I need his baby."

Highbury Corner Magistrates Court was told her actions were at the "upper end of stalking".

Bartholomew will remain in custody while psychiatric experts decide what form of hospital treatment she needs.

'Perfect bare flesh'

District Judge Adrian Turner said that, although Bartholomew's actions were threatening, he was not convinced she posed a genuine threat to Walliams' safety.

He said the former veterinary nurse was "obviously besotted" with the TV celebrity, at which point she shouted: "It is not because he's a celebrity!"

The court heard that Bartholomew had sent more than 1,000 pages of emails and letters to Walliams' agent and solicitor, including one in which she said she wanted to "run my hands over his perfect bare flesh".

Prosecutor Margaret Coles said that Bartholomew had contacted police after being arrested to check whether Walliams had received more of her letters.

When the defendant was sent a formal legal letter asking her to stop contacting Walliams, her approaches became more aggressive.

The judge said experts had concluded that Bartholomew needed medical treatment, the form of which will be decided on 28 July.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.